Nichimoku Shonin
Setting the Standard for the Worldwide Dissemination of the True Law

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In the same way that Nichiren Daishonin remonstrated with the government by means of the Rissho ankoku-ron, Nichimoku Shonin upheld the Daishonin’s great aspiration for kosen-rufu by continually admonishing the Kamakura samurai and Kyoto nobility who administered the government. It is said that Nichimoku Shonin remonstrated with the government no fewer than 42 times. On one such occasion, he petitioned the Emperor in the sixth month of 1299 (the first year of the Sho’an Period) and was finally granted permission to hold the public religious debate of which he had dreamed for many years. Nichimoku Shonin debated a Nembutsu priest named Jisshu-bo Dochi at the Military Government regional headquarters in Kyoto’s Rokuhara District. Notwithstanding the fact that Hojo Munenobu, the 11^th regent, was a staunch Nembutsu supporter and patron, Nichimoku Shonin nonetheless refuted Jisshu-bo Dochi’s arguments without leniency.

In view of Nichimoku Shonin’s distinguished achievements, Nikko Shonin wrote the following inscriptions in the margins of the Gohonzon that he later bestowed upon Nichimoku. “[Presented] this 29^th day of the 12^th month in the fourth year of the Genko Period to Kyo Ajari Nichimoku, the first to remonstrate with the Imperial Court.” “[Conferred] this third day of the 11^th month in the first year of the Shokyo Period to Niidakyo Aja[ri] Nichimoku. He is foremost among all of my disciples.” Nikko Shonin also made the following note in “Articles to be Observed after Nikko’s Death.” “It is herein recorded that during the 50-year period from the eighth year of the Koan Period until the second year of the Gentoku Period, [Nichimoku] has distinguished himself by being the only one to remonstrate with the Imperial Court.”

By remonstrating with the Imperial Court and conducting numerous religious debates, Nichimoku Shonin demonstrated for future generations of disciples the way to establish and cultivate the true Law worldwide.

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